But when her throat was cleared at last, Ms. Palin had something considerably more substantive to say.

She made three interlocking points. First, that the United States is now governed by a ‚Äúpermanent political class,‚ÄĚ drawn from both parties, that is increasingly cut off from the concerns of regular people. Second, that these Republicans and Democrats have allied with big business to mutual advantage to create what she called ‚Äúcorporate crony capitalism.‚ÄĚ Third, that the real political divide in the United States may no longer be between friends and foes of Big Government, but between friends and foes of vast, remote, unaccountable institutions (both public and private).

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The author is in shock that she has something substantial to say. But the points he articulates is why the pub and dem establishment fear and try to destroy her everyone from MSNBC to Ann Coulter & Karl Rove.

This is why the pub establishment is trying to position Romeny and Perry are the presumptive nominee. They saw what she did in Alaska going after the pub establishment and their crony capitalism with the oil companies, as shown in the film "Undefeated".

If she runs she will win the pub nomination IMO.

Palin may be the only candidate who has the guts to change the status quo.

For the last time, nobody "fears" Sarah Palin. She's one of the most unpopular political figures in America. ~70 percent of Republican primary voters don't want her to run for President. She "laments" the "permanent political class," yet she's a member of one of the two major parties, she supports their candidates for public office, she would run under their banner, and she exploits them (the tea party) for her own personal aggrandizement.

The only thing we'd have to look forward to under a Palin presidency is her ultimately quitting halfway through it.

For the last time, nobody "fears" Sarah Palin. She's one of the most unpopular political figures in America. ~70 percent of Republican primary voters don't want her to run for President. She "laments" the "permanent political class," yet she's a member of one of the two major parties, she supports their candidates for public office, she would run under their banner, and she exploits them (the tea party) for her own personal aggrandizement.

The only thing we'd have to look forward to under a Palin presidency is her ultimately quitting halfway through it.

In particular, she focused on ethical lapses by fellow Commissioner Randy Ruedrich, who was also (and unfortunately still is) the statewide GOP chairman. Ruedrich was refusing to complete and file disclosure reports that would have detailed his personal dealings with energy-related companies. When Reudrich ignored her complaints, she went to the state attorney-general, Gregg Renkes. When Renkes ignored her (and threatened her with prosecution if she became a public whistle-blower), she went to the GOP governor who'd appointed her, Frank Murkowski. Murkowski was then, of course, one of the troika of Grand Poobahs of Alaskan GOP politics, along with Congressman Don Young and Senator Ted Stevens.

When Murkowski ignored her too, however, Palin resigned. And she had every reason to believe at that point that her political career, on a statewide or larger stage, was dead.

Nevertheless, despite the threats of prosecution, she went public as a whisle-blower. She wrote a famous op-ed for the state's largest newspaper which contained the memorable statement that the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick. And she proceeded to prove that point by continuing to direct public attention to the scandal.

She was helped along by criminal investigations that have since ended up with indictments and convictions of several public officials. Renkes was forced to resign as attorney-general. Reudrich ended up agreeing to pay a substantial fine for his ethics violations ‚ÄĒ not just the noncompliance with the disclosure forms, but substantive violations based on too-close ties with and favors from VECO, the drilling contractor that's been at the center of most of the Alaskan ethics scandals ‚ÄĒ and to quit the Commission.

And the capstone came when Palin ran in the 2006 GOP primary against the incumbent governor who'd appointed and then ignored and tried to silence her, Frank Murkowski. She whipped him soundly, and then went on to whip another former governor, popular Democrat Tony Knowles, in the 2006 general election.

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She walked the walk when it came to corruption at personal risk. How many pols do this?

Yeah she investigated the sweetheart deals between pub pols and the oil companies and pubs were thrown in jail as a result, she rocked the boat there from a corrupt governor and the vested interest.....

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So the status quo changed -- things are now different there?

By the way, interesting piece. Not surprising, as much as many folks on the right may like to malign the times.

I agreed with most of what she said on those points.

One thing was interesting, though, where he wrote that she criticized other pols who "... arrive in Washington of modest means and then somehow ride the gravy train to fabulous wealth..."

Umm, aside from her not being in Washington, wouldn't that description apply to her pretty well, too?

By the way, interesting piece. Not surprising, as much as many folks on the right may like to malign the times.

I agreed with most of what she said on those points.

One thing was interesting, though, where he wrote that she criticized other pols who "... arrive in Washington of modest means and then somehow ride the gravy train to fabulous wealth..."

Umm, aside from her not being in Washington, wouldn't that description apply to her pretty well, too?

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She hasn't gotten rich handing out taxpayer money of course big difference there, all the difference as a matter of fact.

I was surprised that the NYT would actually print an article like that so I will give credit where credit are due, the author is surprised since it isn;t what he would have expected, although it isn't surprising to conservatives who know here record and familiar with her speeches.

The deal with the oil companies now is very different than what was going on before, obviously corruption is always a danger in any political situation the greedy pols are always among us.

Thanks for taking the time to read the information rather than just going with preconceptions,

She hasn't gotten rich handing out taxpayer money of course big difference there, all the difference as a matter of fact.

I was surprised that the NYT would actually print an article like that so I will give credit where credit are due, the author is surprised since it isn;t what he would have expected, although it isn't surprising to conservatives who know here record and familiar with her speeches.

The deal with the oil companies now is very different than what was going on before, obviously corruption is always a danger in any political situation the greedy pols are always among us.

Thanks for taking the time to read the information rather than just going with preconceptions,

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No, she hasn't, and just to be clear, I wasn't implying she has. But I don't think it points to the danger of her insinuations -- while there certainly is some validity to them -- since many pols have come into their money honestly, just as she appears to have done.

I don't get the Times every day anymore, but they publish a range of opinions although they clearly are on the left. If I had the time, I'd read that and the Wall Street Journal for my daily news. They both have their leanings, but they're both also pretty evenhanded and responsible despite their leanings.

As opposed to a politician who once had modest means, and has now used the system to amass considerable wealth all based on the premise/hope that she may run for President...

Palin is a grifter pure and simple....

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She has been middle class all her life, the crucial point which you choose to ignore is that the 'wealth' that bothers you so much was acquired in the private sector, not in the public sector while in office.

A crucial difference you will choose to ignore. Just as you ignore the positions she is taken that are pointed out in the article.

She has been middle class all her life, the crucial point which you choose to ignore is that the 'wealth' that bothers you so much was acquired in the private sector, not in the public sector while in office.

A crucial difference you will choose to ignore. Just as you ignore the positions she is taken that are pointed out in the article.

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Until she became an opportunist after her failed candidacy.. much the same as she did as governor, the subsequent administration has gone to great lengths to undue the damage she did...

Her failed pipeline effort has been scrapped, even though she was advised not to proceed from the onset.

Palin is a grifter, and continues to fool the masses.. what is she candidate? Candidate? News Commentator? Professional fund raiser for herself??